Published: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 12:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 12:59 p.m.

Photo Galleries

Henderson County local government offices and agencies will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday as a result of the inclement weather.

UPDATE

School systems in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties decided late Tuesday afternoon to cancel classes Wednesday. Transylvania County Schools and Brevard Academy will make up the missed day on Feb. 17, and today is an annual leave day for teachers in all districts.

Mountain Community School is also closed today, and Blue Ridge Community College has canceled its day classes.

UPDATE

As of 2:45 p.m., six arrivals and three departures at Asheville Regional Airport were delayed or canceled due to snow. But the airport was still “fully operational,” with flights able to take off and land, said Tina Kinsey, the airport's director of marketing.

“If an airline has a plane and they're here, they can absolutely take off,” Kinsey said. “But there are so many other factors in a weather situation like this.”

For example, destination airports might not be accepting flights, she said, or incoming planes necessary for Asheville departures might be stuck elsewhere. Kinsey said the best thing for travelers to do is check with their individual airlines.

UPDATE

Fifteen wrecks were pending at 2 p.m. as Highway Patrol Sgt. B.E. Hipp checked his dispatch system. He said a full staff of troopers was scheduled to work Tuesday – a decision made before the mild weather forecasted for Henderson County was trumped by a heavy hand from mother nature.

Even with a full staff on duty, Hipp said they could use more troopers as motor vehicle accident calls lit up the dispatch screen from roads throughout the county.

Hipp urged drivers not to go out “unless you absolutely have to.” He said drivers who have to venture out are reminded to increase the following distance between the car in front of you and reduce speed.

UPDATE

Law enforcement officials are reporting multiple vehicle accidents in Henderson County following the early dismissal of schools today, including one involving a school bus on Livingston Road in Fletcher.

“In the county we have dispatched (fire and rescue personnel to respond to) approximately 26 wrecks,” said Chief Deputy Frank Stout of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office at 1:30 p.m. “We've transferred three times that many to the State Highway Patrol” for accidents involving vehicles without personal injuries reported.

A school bus was involved in a roll-over collision on Livingston Road around midday, Henderson County Fire Marshal Wally Hollis said, and three minor injuries were reported in the crash.

Two school buses in the Henderson County fleet also were reported stranded, Hollis said. One was stuck on Berea Church Road. The other was reported stranded on Jeter Mountain Road.

"I have a full day crew putting emphasis on the interstate and primary routes. That said, secondary routes, residential areas and unpaved roads are going to fall below that priority. We've got a night crew coming in tonight," Willis said. "We're working as diligently as possible."

Though he said his department keeps a close eye on the weather this time of year, Willis said the forecasts "changed drastically."

With temperatures expected to dip into the low teens tonight, Willis urged drivers, "If people do not have to be out on the roads, don't."

Transylvania and Polk County Maintenance Engineer Ben Williams said snow hasn't reached Polk County yet, but in Transylvania County the roads are slick.

"We're salting now, and we won't be stopping. We'll be working all through the night," he said. "We're still holding on."

Williams said when he woke up at 6:30 a.m., he was surprised by the snow because he said initial weather reports did not call for snow this early in the day.

Williams also said that even if his crews had known about the snow sooner, they would not have been able to put a salt brine solution on the roads last night or Tuesday morning.

"In Transylvania County, once it hits about 19 or 20 degrees, that brine starts to freeze and it can really cause problems," he said.

<p><b>UPDATE</b></p><p>Henderson County local government offices and agencies will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday as a result of the inclement weather.</p><p><b>UPDATE</b></p><p>School systems in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties decided late Tuesday afternoon to cancel classes Wednesday. Transylvania County Schools and Brevard Academy will make up the missed day on Feb. 17, and today is an annual leave day for teachers in all districts. </p><p>Mountain Community School is also closed today, and Blue Ridge Community College has canceled its day classes. </p><p><b>UPDATE</b></p><p>As of 2:45 p.m., six arrivals and three departures at Asheville Regional Airport were delayed or canceled due to snow. But the airport was still “fully operational,” with flights able to take off and land, said Tina Kinsey, the airport's director of marketing.</p><p>“If an airline has a plane and they're here, they can absolutely take off,” Kinsey said. “But there are so many other factors in a weather situation like this.”</p><p>For example, destination airports might not be accepting flights, she said, or incoming planes necessary for Asheville departures might be stuck elsewhere. Kinsey said the best thing for travelers to do is check with their individual airlines.</p><p><b>UPDATE</B></p><p>Fifteen wrecks were pending at 2 p.m. as Highway Patrol Sgt. B.E. Hipp checked his dispatch system. He said a full staff of troopers was scheduled to work Tuesday – a decision made before the mild weather forecasted for Henderson County was trumped by a heavy hand from mother nature.</p><p>Even with a full staff on duty, Hipp said they could use more troopers as motor vehicle accident calls lit up the dispatch screen from roads throughout the county. </p><p>Wrecks were reported on Interstate 26, Hoopers Creek Road, Howard Gap Road, Old Spartanburg Road, Highway 64, Highway 25 and Jeter Mountain Road.</p><p>Hipp urged drivers not to go out “unless you absolutely have to.” He said drivers who have to venture out are reminded to increase the following distance between the car in front of you and reduce speed.</p><p><B>UPDATE</B></p><p>Law enforcement officials are reporting multiple vehicle accidents in Henderson County following the early dismissal of schools today, including one involving a school bus on Livingston Road in Fletcher.</p><p>“In the county we have dispatched (fire and rescue personnel to respond to) approximately 26 wrecks,” said Chief Deputy Frank Stout of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office at 1:30 p.m. “We've transferred three times that many to the State Highway Patrol” for accidents involving vehicles without personal injuries reported.</p><p>A school bus was involved in a roll-over collision on Livingston Road around midday, Henderson County Fire Marshal Wally Hollis said, and three minor injuries were reported in the crash.</p><p>Two school buses in the Henderson County fleet also were reported stranded, Hollis said. One was stuck on Berea Church Road. The other was reported stranded on Jeter Mountain Road.</p><p>Henderson County Maintenance Engineer Jason Willis said his crews began salting the roads 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.</p><p>"I have a full day crew putting emphasis on the interstate and primary routes. That said, secondary routes, residential areas and unpaved roads are going to fall below that priority. We've got a night crew coming in tonight," Willis said. "We're working as diligently as possible."</p><p>Though he said his department keeps a close eye on the weather this time of year, Willis said the forecasts "changed drastically." </p><p>With temperatures expected to dip into the low teens tonight, Willis urged drivers, "If people do not have to be out on the roads, don't."</p><p>Transylvania and Polk County Maintenance Engineer Ben Williams said snow hasn't reached Polk County yet, but in Transylvania County the roads are slick.</p><p>"We're salting now, and we won't be stopping. We'll be working all through the night," he said. "We're still holding on."</p><p>Williams said when he woke up at 6:30 a.m., he was surprised by the snow because he said initial weather reports did not call for snow this early in the day. </p><p>Williams also said that even if his crews had known about the snow sooner, they would not have been able to put a salt brine solution on the roads last night or Tuesday morning.</p><p>"In Transylvania County, once it hits about 19 or 20 degrees, that brine starts to freeze and it can really cause problems," he said.</p>